by Erin Vallely

When people think of the word “politics” they often think of our government representatives in Washington, D.C., but struggle to understand the impacts those people have on our day-to-day lives.  Although they can be hard to see, political decisions and influences impact every part of our lives.  Our actions also influence politics indirectly and directly.   

Definition of Politics and Its Impact on Daily Life 

Politics is the act of making decisions, managing power, and dividing resources within any size group.  Politics includes sanctioned law-making bodies, social expectations about behavior in public, and how you live your day-to-day life.  Politics influences the laws we have to follow, what we buy, and how we spend our time and money.  Some common political issues you might be familiar with are fair wages for work, access to healthcare services, and access to good education. 

People can also make political statements in their daily life, even if they are not elected officials.  A political statement is any verbal, written, or physical action that supports or opposes specific political thoughts, candidates, policies, or government actions.  It communicates a viewpoint on issues of government decisions or social issues.  Examples of political statements are voting in a government election, wearing clothing with a political message, boycotting or supporting a business, or sharing your opinion online.   

Ways to Get Involved in Political Advocacy 

Political advocacy is the act of communicating your opinion of an issue in order to influence decision makers.  Without advocacy for or against something, it is easy for decision makers to do what they want.  Decision makers do not always do what is best for other people.  Here are some activities you can participate in to make your opinions known: 

• Posting on Social Media: By posting your opinions about political issues on social media, you are able to share your thoughts with a lot of people at once.  This helps teach people about the topic you care about.  Be careful that you do not share inaccurate information or fake news. 

• Signing a Petition: A petition is a written request to a person or organization with power over a specific issue to do something about it.  A petition argues for or against a specific action and people who agree with it sign their name.  The more signatures it has, the more likely the people in power will consider a petition. 

• Writing An Email or Letter: People can write directly to their government representatives about any relevant topic.  You can explain why you support or do not support something and ask them to make a certain decision about an issue.  You should always be polite and respectful in your letter or email. 

• Writing a Letter to the Editor: You can help educate people about policy issues by sending a letter to the newspaper that they might publish.  You should make the letter personal but also connect it to other people’s lives.  Provide facts and evidence to support your points. 

• Making a Phone Call: You can call your government representative’s office and share your thoughts about a policy topic.  You will talk to one of the staff members in the office and give them your information so they know you live in their district.  You should keep your message short and to the point. 

• Joining a Phone Bank: A phone bank is a way for folks to spread their message with people they do not regularly see in person.  Many political candidates will have supporters call community members to ask for their support.  You can also use it to encourage people to contact their government officials about an issue. 

• Attending A Rally or Protest: A political rally or protest is when people of similar beliefs get together as a group in hopes of drawing public attention to an issue.  People may make signs with slogans and invite people to speak about an issue.  As long as people do not disturb others or become violent, protesting is legal.  

• Attending a Town Hall: A town hall is a public meeting where people can talk directly to their government representatives.  Government representatives organize these meetings and will often share information about recent political topics and ideas.  Politicians will often ask people to share their views and ideas with them. 

• Donating to a Campaign or Organization: You can give money to political candidates or organizations working on political issues.  Candidates and organizations often use donations to pay for advertisements or programs that align with their priorities.  You can donate any amount of money. 

• Meeting with Government Representatives: You can have virtual or in-person meetings with your government officials to share your thoughts.  You may meet with the representative or one of their staff members.  Your meeting will only be a few minutes long so it is best to pick three main points that support your views. 

Although there are many ways to advocate for issues you care about, some tips apply to many activities.  First, always maintain a polite tone, and never yell or swear at representatives or other individuals.  People are much more likely to listen to you if you are polite to them.  Second, stick to one issue, or one set of connected issues, at a time, especially when writing, calling, or meeting with people.  The more focused you are, the more effective you will be.  Lastly, use their own and / or their party’s words and beliefs to help bolster your arguments.  If you do not know a representative’s opinion on a specific issue, do research and take time to create your talking points.  You can often find ideas online to help you create your points. 

Get Involved! 

Although policy and politics are complex, it is important to educate yourself on what is happening, how you are impacted by laws, and the advocacy rights you have.  Here’s some resources that can help you get started. 

• Learn more about current proposed laws and issues Congress is addressing at https://www.congress.gov/  

• Find out who your representatives are at https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/ 

• Register with ResistBot to easily contact your representatives and advocate for issues at https://resist.bot/  

If you have questions about the information above, or need help advocating for yourself or someone else’s rights, please contact ATI at 607-753-7363 or by email at info@aticortland.org.